Sahar Hashemi
Encyclopedia
Sahar Hashemi is a successful business woman who co-founded the coffee chain Coffee Republic
with her brother Bobby Hashemi
and low calorie sweets brand Skinny Candy. Sahar left Coffee Republic in 2001 to write bestselling book: “Anyone Can do It” (ISBN 1-84112-579-2). She is a regular lecturer around the world on topics such as innovation
and entrepreneurship
.
Sahar Hashemi has been named one of the Most Influential Women in Britain by the Daily Mail
, Independent on Sunday and Management Today.
and obtained the corporation exhibition scholarship. She went on to read Law at the University of Bristol
where she graduated with a LLB honours. In 2006, Sahar was awarded an Enterprise Roll of Honour from the University.
, UK's first US style coffee bar chain in the United Kingdom
with her brother, Bobby Hashemi and built it into one of the UK's most recognised high street brands with a turnover of £30 million. The first site opened on South Molton Street in 1995.
The siblings were able to make Coffee Republic one of the main players in the 'coffee revolution' that transformed a nation of tea drinkers into one obsessed with fancy coffees. By 2001, there were over 100 stores around the UK. Sahar left Coffee Republic in 2001 to write a book called ‘Anyone Can Do It - Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen table’.
business chart. The book has also been endorsed by the DTI
, The Princes Trust and Institute of Directors
.
, guilt-free confectionery brand http://www.skinnycandy.com. This was based upon the lack of low-fat sweets and chocolates aimed at the mass market. SThe range was initially distributed in Coffee Republic and then Harvey Nichols
and is available across many big department store chains throughout the UK such as Selfridges
, Harvey Nichols
, Top Shop
, Julian Graves
, Waitrose
and most Coffee Republic stores.
In 2007, Sahar sold 50% of Skinny Candy to Glisten Plc.
Corporate Development Board and is a Patron of the Child Bereavement Charity.
Sahar fronted a government
campaign in 2004 for Skills for Business to encourage employers to develop staff skills.
and Accenture
. Topics include:
Sahar is a speaker ambassador for The Princes Trust and has spoken as keynote speaker at various high profile events including Institute of Directors
Women’s Summit, Wall Street Journal Europe Summit and Enterprise 100, IAA World Congress, Global Leadership Forum Malaysia.
Coffee Republic
Coffee Republic is a British coffee bar and deli franchise chain founded in 1995.- History :* 1995Coffee Republic is founded by brother and sister team Bobby and Sahar Hashemi, opening its first site in London's South Molton Street.* 1996...
with her brother Bobby Hashemi
Bobby Hashemi
Bobby Hashemi is a successful British entrepreneur who is now a private equity investor at Risk Capital Partners LLP in London.Bobby previously co-founded the coffee chain Coffee Republic with his sister Sahar Hashemi...
and low calorie sweets brand Skinny Candy. Sahar left Coffee Republic in 2001 to write bestselling book: “Anyone Can do It” (ISBN 1-84112-579-2). She is a regular lecturer around the world on topics such as innovation
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
and entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
.
Sahar Hashemi has been named one of the Most Influential Women in Britain by the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, Independent on Sunday and Management Today.
Biography
Sahar attended City of London School for GirlsCity of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls is a girls' independent school located in the City of London, United Kingdom. It is sister school of the City of London School and the City of London Freemen's School .-History:The school was founded by William Ward in 1894...
and obtained the corporation exhibition scholarship. She went on to read Law at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
where she graduated with a LLB honours. In 2006, Sahar was awarded an Enterprise Roll of Honour from the University.
Career
On graduating, Sahar trained and qualified as a solicitor with Frere Cholmeley in Lincoln’s Inn fields. Upon discovering a gap in the market for coffee drinks, Sahar left her job in 1994. She realised that unlike the US and much of Europe, the UK’s caffeine cravings weren’t being satisfied.Coffee Republic
Sahar developed and co-founded the Coffee RepublicCoffee Republic
Coffee Republic is a British coffee bar and deli franchise chain founded in 1995.- History :* 1995Coffee Republic is founded by brother and sister team Bobby and Sahar Hashemi, opening its first site in London's South Molton Street.* 1996...
, UK's first US style coffee bar chain in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with her brother, Bobby Hashemi and built it into one of the UK's most recognised high street brands with a turnover of £30 million. The first site opened on South Molton Street in 1995.
The siblings were able to make Coffee Republic one of the main players in the 'coffee revolution' that transformed a nation of tea drinkers into one obsessed with fancy coffees. By 2001, there were over 100 stores around the UK. Sahar left Coffee Republic in 2001 to write a book called ‘Anyone Can Do It - Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen table’.
Author
Anyone Can Do It was published in 2003 and tells the story of the high street coffee chain: Coffee Republic. The book is written jointly by Sahar and Bobby Hashemi and describes the journey of turning Coffee Republic from an idea into a high street brand. The book is aimed at budding entrepreneurs and those starting up in business. The book is published by Wiley Publishing and has been translated into six languages. ‘Anyone Can Do It’ reached number 1 on the AmazonAmazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
business chart. The book has also been endorsed by the DTI
DTI
DTI may refer to:*Debt-to-income ratio*Deep trench isolation*Defense Technology Institute, the Thai defense technology public organisation*Department of Trade and Industry, a government department in several countries*Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad...
, The Princes Trust and Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
.
Skinny Candy
In 2005, Sahar launched Skinny CandySkinny Candy
Skinny Candy is a confectionery brand,that was founded by Sahar Hashemi, former Coffee Republic founder and entrepreneur in 2005. It was born out of a lack of low sugar and low fat chocolates and sweets available to the British market....
, guilt-free confectionery brand http://www.skinnycandy.com. This was based upon the lack of low-fat sweets and chocolates aimed at the mass market. SThe range was initially distributed in Coffee Republic and then Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
and is available across many big department store chains throughout the UK such as Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
, Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
, Top Shop
Top Shop
Top Shop may mean:* TopShop A British Clothes Store* BOARD GAME Top Shop - A PlayStation Game* A Serbian national shop located in Novi Sad...
, Julian Graves
Julian Graves
Julian Graves is a health food retailer, with 255 stores operating in the United Kingdom and the Republic Of Ireland. They sell health foods, a limited range of kitchenware, baking ingredients and a variety of confectionery items. NBTY who own rival chain Holland & Barrett reached an agreement to...
, Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
and most Coffee Republic stores.
In 2007, Sahar sold 50% of Skinny Candy to Glisten Plc.
Corporate for Crisis
Most recently, Sahar become involved in Corporate for Crisis which helps companies design and implement social strategies around their business in areas of the world in crisis, or regions where there has been conflict. It enables companies to work at a humanitarian level that benefit both them and the local community.Other
In addition, Sahar is a supporter of The Princes Trust and donates part of the royalties of 'Anyone Can Do It' to the trust. Sahar sits on the NSPCCNSPCC
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a United Kingdom charity campaigning and working in child protection.-History:...
Corporate Development Board and is a Patron of the Child Bereavement Charity.
Sahar fronted a government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
campaign in 2004 for Skills for Business to encourage employers to develop staff skills.
Awards
- Pioneer to the Life of the Nation by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II
- World Economic ForumWorld Economic ForumThe World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
, Davos: ‘Young Global Leader’ - Management Today: Top 35 Women in British business under 35
- Independent on Sunday: 20 most powerful women in Britain
- Shell liveWIREShell LiveWIREShell LiveWIRE is a UK-wide enterprise scheme to help support young entrepreneurs into business.Shell Livewire is a Shell Social Investment programme and , was launched in the Strathclyde area of Scotland in 1982, before being rolled out across the rest of the UK in 1985. offers two business...
survey of inspirational role models: fifth place after 1) Richard BransonRichard BransonSir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
2) Friends/family 3) Anita RoddickAnita RoddickDame Anita Roddick, DBE was a British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner, best known as the founder of The Body Shop, a cosmetics company producing and retailing beauty products that shaped ethical consumerism...
4) James DysonJames DysonSir James Dyson is a British industrial designer and founder of the Dyson company.He is best known as the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. His net worth in 2011 was said to be £1.45 billion.-Early life:Dyson was born in...
5) Sahar Hashemi
Speaker
Sahar is a regular lecturer and keynote speaker for topics around the world in the UK, Europe and the Middle East for clients such as MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
and Accenture
Accenture
Accenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
. Topics include:
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- InnovationInnovationInnovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
- CreativityCreativityCreativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
- BrandingBrand managementBrand management is the application of marketing techniques to a specific product, product line, or brand.The discipline of brand management was started at Procter & Gamble as a result of a famous memo by Neil H...
- Customer ServiceCustomer serviceCustomer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.According to Turban et al. , “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer...
Sahar is a speaker ambassador for The Princes Trust and has spoken as keynote speaker at various high profile events including Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
Women’s Summit, Wall Street Journal Europe Summit and Enterprise 100, IAA World Congress, Global Leadership Forum Malaysia.